Process of and apparatus for producing printing forms



Dec; 10, 1935.

I J. SCHNEIDER PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRINTING FORMS Filed March 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Julius J. SCHNEIDER Dec 10, 1935,.

' PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRINTING FORMS Filed March 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 guf Schnu dcr j IN VENTOR. 1

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Patented Dec. 10, 1935 STATES ATENT orriee Julius Schneider, Munich, Germany Application March 1, 1934, Serial No. 713,458 In Germany March 4, 1933 8 Claims.

A known process of producing a form for printing a line of text consists in first embossing the letters in a strip of metal or other suitable material, then folding the strip between the words and straightening the folds out again, to the extent required for justifying, and finally using the embossed strip for making a cast. In one modification of this process marginal portions of the strip are punched out between the words, leaving necks of a width at least equal to the height of the letters, the punching and the folding of the necks being performed simultaneously, but as a separate operation following the embossing. In the course of the embossing impressions are made in the gaps between the words, for the purpose of timing the action of the subsequently used punching and folding mechanism.

According to my invention I effect the punching of the strip between the words by means of the embossing type carrier, and incorporate the punching with the embossing process, the holes or gaps made by the punch or punches serving subsequently to put the folding appliance in operation at the proper places, prior to the justifying operation and the making of the cast. With this process there is no necessity for impressing marks on the strip, to control the punching and folding mechanism.

I prefer to arrange that at the beginning and the end of the line holes or gaps are punched, which coact with abutments when the strip is being fed to the casting apparatus, and cause "the strip to be stretched to the required length.

Preferably the embossing and punching operations are performed by mechanism which is independent from the folding, stretching and casting apparatus, as this enables the latter apparatus to deal with two, three or more strips while the comparatively slow operation of embossing and punching one strip is being effected.

In order that the holes or gaps at the beginning and end of the line perform their distinct function they must differ from the gaps between the words, and to avoid the necessity of providing separate punches for this purpose I may arrange that they are each made by two successive operations of the punch which punches the strip between the words, the effect being to make larger gaps at the ends of the line.

I may place a soft strip e. g. of cardboard, under the harder metal strip, so that it is likewise embossed and punched, the soft strip being removed before the metal strip is folded, and serving. as a record, or for proof reading. Two

or more such soft strips may be used, for producing records in duplicate or triplicate.

My invention includes apparatus specially designed for carrying into effect the improved process which I have described. In this apparatus the embossing types and punches are radially movable at the rim of a wheel rotating stepwise, and are pushed outwards when the wheel stops. The wheel is stopped by selected stops in the path of a member rotating in synchronism with the wheel. These stops may be actuated by means of a keyboard, and each stop corresponds to a particular letter or other character or to a punch, and causes the wheel to stop in the position required for embossing that character, or for the action of the punch. The embossing type or the punch may be actuated by the impact of the rotating member with the stop, as for example by causing the stop to strike a spring loaded pawl, which serves also to cushion the blow delivered by the rotating member when it strikes the stop.

The folding mechanism includes twopairs of jaws o-r pliers, which grip the strip at opposite ends of the part where the fold is to be made, and are then moved towards each other.

For making the cast there is a casting apparatus which will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In punching the strip I prefer to cut slots, instead of cutting out portions to produce gaps at the edges.

Embodiments of apparatus according to my invention are shown in the accompanying drawmgs.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine for effecting the embossing and punching operations, with certain parts omitted.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of this machine in greater detail,

Fig. 3 shows part of it turned upside down, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of folding, stretching and casting apparatus.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a shaft has thereon an embossing and stamping wheel 2 held against rotation by a spring catch enabling it to be removed and changed without difficulty. Into the rim portion of this wheel are inserted two circular series of types 3 and 4, side by side, for embossing the characters. For simplicity only a single type 3 and a single type 4 are shown in Fig. l. The types are radially movable and are engaged with coiled springs 5 tending to retain them in their inner positions. Laterally of the types the wheel carries for each series twopunches' 6, 1. Fig. 1 shows only the two punchesfor the series of types 3; the punches for the other series are arranged in precisely the same way, and are omitted from the drawings, for clearness. Each of the punches can be moved radially outwards, and is retracted by a spring. The punch 6 is of horse-shoe shape, with its limbs at Opposite sides of the series of types 3, the distance between them being at least equal to the height of the letters represented by the types, so that it can punch holes 9 above and below a letter embossed in a strip 8 under the wheel. The punch I is similar to the punch 6, except in that one of its limbs is shorter than the other "and does not punch the strip 8. The punch produces single holes IS.

The wheel 2 has fixed thereto two circular racks H, The numbers of tooth gaps 'in these racks correspond, respectively, to the numbers of types and punches-the two series 3 and 4, there being-one tooth .gap for each type, and each punch. The toothgaps vary in depth, their depthsbeing proportionate to the widths of the respective types and punches. The "function of the tooth gaps is to determine the angles through which the'wheel is rotated step by step. "The wheel 2 is axially movableron .theshaft .l and the two racks can be engaged alternatively. with a nose I3 ona lever .45 fixed to a shaft 14'. Fixed to this shaft also a toothed segment ['6 engaged with a toothed wheel I! fixed to a feed roller .18, Which coacts with .-a roller [-9 for feeding the strip 8;

The two series 70f types 3 and -4 are of different kinds, which can be used alternatively, the wheel 2 being axially adjusted for that purpose. There may be more than two series of types of different kinds, if desired. The axial adjustment is effected by means :of .a sleeve 20, which is axially movable but not rotatable on the-shaft. This sleeve has rat one end .a channelled. collar 2:! engaged with .arstud 22 -on an arm 23, which can be reciprocated as indicated by the doubleheaded arrow :24, the range .of movement being limited so that movement to :either end position places one or other-of the seriesvof types exactly in the position required for usingit.

The shaft 1 and wheel 2 are rotated by .means of .a worm 25 and worrnwheel 26, the worm wheel being coupled with the shaft loy means of a friction clutch .2! having .radial, resilient arms bearing-against one side .of .the wheel. The friction clutch allows rota-tionof the wheeli to he stopped, when required, while the worm wheel continues to rotate. Bevel gears 28., 29 connect the shaft to a hollow vertical .shaft3ll having fixed thereto an arm 31. .Below the .pathof this arm there is .a circular seriessof stops .32, which are slidable .in :holes .in .a cylinder 33 and can be lifted separately to stop rotation of the arm selected -positlons.- Each of stops 32 is connected to a key lever -34 corresponding to one of the letters to be embossed, or to one of the punchese, i. For clearness only one key lever is shown in the drawings, withthe le.tter.A .marked on the stud by means of which it is actuated. 7

'As best shown in Figs. .2 and 3 the .arm .3! .has

an arcuate vgroove 35 :open at oneend .but closed, by a transverse wall 36 .a-t the other end. Into this groove projects, from one side, the'bevelledhead 3'! of a pin 39, on which .iscoiledaspring 38. The pin has at itssother end a .cam surface 49, for coacting with a rod -41 .slidable.in.the .-holto the width of the embossed type.

low shaft 30. The rod 4| projects from the shaft at the top and abuts against a lever 43 pivoted at 42. A rod 44 connects the lever 43 to a lever 45 pivoted at 46. This lever is fiat, and has at one edge a notch 4? of irregular shape adapted to engage a stud 48 projecting from a pin 49, which is slidable in a channel in a cylinder 55. A spring 5| urges the pin 49 in the directon indicated by "the arrow 52 in Fig. 1. The cylinder is fixed to a shaft 53, upon which is rotatably 10 -mounted a worm. wheel 5e engaged with the .worm 25 hereinbefore mentioned. The shaft 53 can strike whichever type or punch is in position to .operateon the strip 8. 20

vSo long as no key is depressed to place a stop .32 in the path of the arm 3| the shaft 5 and wheellrotate, driven by the worm 25. The worm wheel 54 also rotates, but does not rotate the shaft 53, asit is not coupled therewith. On de- 25 pression of a key 34, say the key of the letter A, a .stop 32 is lifted into the path of the arm 3|, and therotation of this arm 3| is in due course stopped. The raised stop 32, projecting into the groove 35, pushes aside the pin 38 as indi- .30 cated by the arrow 60, and the transverse part 36 then .strikes the stop, rotation of the wheel 2 being consequently checked, though the worm wheel 26 continues to rotate. The pin 38 is moved :back .by the spring 39, as soon as it has cleared .35 the stop 32, but its inward movement lifts the rod 4|, as indicated by the arrow l, and rocks the lever 43, so that the lever 45 is disengaged from the stud -48 sufficiently long to release the pin 49, which engages into one of the holes 56 40 in the worm wheel 54. This couples the shaft 53 with the worm .25, and the cam is rotated so that it strikes the arm 51 of the hammer-59.

In .each embossing or punching position of the wheel 2 the nose I3 of the lever l5 engages a par- .45 .ticular notch .in one or other of the racks H, I2, and serves, by this means accurately to position the wheel; The lever l5 may likewise be actuated by means of a cam, from the shaft 53.

When the hammer is struck the type or punch 50 .facing is restored to normal position by gravity or by a spring or equivalent means not shown in the .drawings,.andthe shaft 53 continues to rotate till the=stud48 enters'from below a deep portion of the notch 4-? in the lever 45, and slides along 55 the curved base of the notch, which causes the pin to be retracted from engagement with the wheel 54. Consequently the hammer can only be actuatedonce, on depression of a key, however long the key may be held down. The nose I3 is 60 retracted from the rack H or 12, the period required for disengaging it depending on the depth of the notch which it hadengaged. The retracti-ng movement rotates the toothed segment [6, sothat the strip 8 is fed in the direction indicated by the arrow 62 through a distance proportional The segment it is coupled with the lever 15 by a clutch which transmits to its movement in one direction only, so that the segment is not rotated by the move- .ment :of the lever l5 for engaging the rack i orlZ,

Foriproducing the holes or slots 5 and Hi there are appropriate keys, the action being precisely the sameas for embossing, except that a punch is placed in position to be struck by the hammer. At the beginning and end of the line the key corresponding to the punch l is depressed twice in succession, and the punch operates twice, with intervening feed of the strip 8 through a distance equal to the width of the punch. This produces the holes iii, which are twice as long as the holes 9. The punch 6 serves for making the holes 9.

The strip 8 is preferably of metal. With it, and under it, a softer strip 63, e. g. of cardboard, is fed through the machine, to make a record or proof sheet. After passing the wheel 2 the strip 8 proceeds to the folding and casting machine, but the strip 53 is deflected and removed.

The folding and casting need not follow directly upon the embossing and punching, and it is generally preferable first to wind the strip 3 on a drum from which it is fed to the folding and casting apparatus. A single folding and casting machine may generally deal with the output of two or more embossing and punching machines.

Referring to the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, there are two grippers 64, 65, whereof the upper parts te 65 can rock on shafts 66, but are normally held by springs in the position of rest shown. The gripper 64, 84 is movable on a guide 57, so that as indicated by the arrow 68, it can be moved towards the gripper E5, 55 against the action of a spring, not shown. The gap 69 between the pincers is of the same width as the holes 9. When the two holes 9 between two successive words embossed on the strip 8 reach the gap 69 a feeler a pressed by spring engages one of these holes, stopping the feed of the strip and causing a shaft ill to be coupled with a driving member." The feeler is axially movable in guide slot 22. The spring 0 is placed under tension between a collar (2 of the feeler and the lower edge e of the guide slot, and tends to press the feeler downward. The feeler will project into a hole that is moved in alignment with it, stops the feeding of strip 8, and couples shaft 70 with the drive. The lower end of the feeler is rounded so that it does not interfere with the further travel of strip 8. The diameter of the feeler is such that it does not prevent the moving towards one another of jaws 64 and 65 during the folding operation. The clutch mechanism is like the mechanism 43, 69, 59, M, 53, G, 55 described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, so that the shaft makes only one revolution each time that the feeler operates. The shaft carries two cams H, '5? and in the course of rotation of the shaft the earn it first depresses the upper jaws 64 65 of the grippers, causing the strip 8 to be gripped, whereupon the cam 72 actuates a lever 14 pivoted at 53, causing the gripper E4, 64 to be moved in the direction of the arrow 58 towards the pincers 85, whereby folds i5, 36 are produced in the strip 8 by doubling the necks ll, '58 between and outside the sides of the holes fl. On completion of a revolution by the shaft it the jaws 64 65 move upwards again and the grippers are moved apart, and the feeding of the strip 8 continues until the next pair of holes 9 reaches the gap 69. In order that the folds are always made upwards there is a slide i9 actuated by the shaft H3, arranged to bend the strip slightly upwards before the grippers act, the slide being of course retracted before the folding takes place.

The punching of holes which leave necks H8 at the sides thereof has over the punching of marginal gaps the advantage that no sharp corners are created at the edges of the strip, liable to engage accidental obstructions.

No folding operation occurs when the holes in reach the folder, as the feeler does not enter these holes.

After leaving the folding device the strip is fed to the casting apparatus. This consists of a 5 casting table 36, two casting bars 8! and 82, each of which can pivot about a shaft 83, and a casting frame 34. The two casting bars SI and 82 are at this stage held in the position indicated by broke lines; in like manner the casting frame 84. In the working-position shown in Fig. 4 in full lines, the distance between the casting bars 85 somewhat exceeds the height of the type. The casting frame 84 is provided in the front with projection 86 corresponding in height to the height of the casting bars, and in width to the distance between the casting bars.

Before beginning the casting operation the strip 8 is stretched to required length. This operation is performed with the aid of the perforations I0 and two feelers 8'! and 88 spaced the required distance apart. The feelers fit into the perforations l0. First the feeler 8'! snaps into the perforation H) at the trailing end of the strip, so that the feed of this part of the strip is checked. The part having the perforation It" continues to travel, expanding the folds J5 and 16 until the feeler 83 snaps into the perforation Ill. The

strip is then of the prescribed length, and the bars 85 and 82 swing down on to the strip 8 and engage with their projections 89 into the spaces between the folds 15 and I6. Then the casting frame 84 is lowered on to the bars 8! and 82, with its projections 85 extending in front to the strip and making a tight seal". The casting frame 84 is provided with taper pins 90 which engage into conical recesses in the casting bars BI and 82. This ensures that the bars 8| and 82, are pressed lightly towards each other in the direction of the arrows 9i and 92, against the edges 93 of the folds 75. The shafts 33 of the casting bars are transversely slidable. The mould is now ready for casting, and molten metal is admitted in the usual way.

I may in known manner arrange a number of casting frames 84 on a wheel which revolves in front of the slot between the bars BI and 82, the wheel being axially shifted before each casting operation so that a selected casting frame is moved into the working position (Fig. 4)

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The process of producing a printing strip which comprises: embossing the letters to form the words, at the same time slotting the strip in the gaps between the words, and making under the control of the slots, folds in the strip at the slotted parts.

2. A process according to claim 1 and in which before the embossing of the first letter and after the embossing of the last letter in each line a slot is produced of different cross-section than the slots in the word gaps, and stretching the strip to a predetermined length under the control of said slots of different cross-section.

3. A process according to claim 1 and in which before the embossing of the first letter and after the embossing of the last letter in each line two successive slots are produced of different crosssection than the slots in the word gaps, and stretching the strip to a predetermined length under the control of said slots of different crosssection.

4. Apparatus for producing a printing strip comprising: means for feeding the strip, combined letter embossing types and punches, means for selectively placing said types and punch in a common. embossing and punching position to emboss letters 'on .said strip and at the same time punch slots in the gaps between words, and means controlled by said slots for folding the strip at the slotted parts.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 and in which 1 means are provided for actuating said punch to form slots in said strip before the first and after the last letter in each line, said last mentioned slots being of different cross-section than the slots first mentioned, and means controlled by said last mentioned slots for stretching the strip to a predetermined length.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4am in which said types and punches are carried by a typewheel, means for rotating and means for stopping control of the slots folds in the strip at the slotted parts.

8. Apparatus for producing a printing strip comprising: means for feeding the strip, combined letter printing types and punches, means for selectively placing said types and punch in 7 a common printing and punching position to print letters on said strip and at the same time punch slots in the gaps between words, and means controlled by said :slots for folding the strip at the slotted parts.

JULIUS SCHNEIDER. 

